The organisers had re-shaped the league into three divisions (from two) and with their 4th place finish in 2013 guaranteeing Team Borders a spot in the trimmed-down Division 1 alongside Edinburgh, Central, Pitreavie, Livingston and Cumbernauld.

A very promising start was made with Team Borders finishing 3rd overall on 300.5 points behind clear winners Edinburgh and Pitreavie.

But with the three other teams snapping at their heels, and the sixth placed club Livingston on 276 points, a close battle for places looks likely in the coming two matches.

As usual, Team Borders’ strength lay on the track with seven individual 'A’ race wins in the 100m and 800m, three 'B’ race wins, plus two 4x100m relay successes.

There was also a rare field event win with Adam Leighton securing victory in the U13 Boys High Jump.

Individual 'A’ race winners, who pleasingly came from all five of the Borders clubs, were: U15 Girls 100m Philippa Robertson 13.3s; U13 Girls 100m Amy Campbell 14.8s; U11 Boys 100m Max Foggin 15.6s; U13 Boys 800m Josh Abbott 2.27.6; U13 Girls 800m Rachel Fagan 2.35.6; U11 Boys 800m Murray Aiken 2.41.4; and U11 Girls 800m Harriet Woodland-Broome 2.57.3.

Meanwhile, as the Scottish hill race season is starting to build for the summer, sister and brother Scout and Jacob Adkin from Moorfoot Runners had a one-two of sorts in the Hunters Bog Trot on Saturday.

Scout (20) was first woman home in 32.56 over the 6.5km course which incorporated 240m of climb up and down the paths and slopes of Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. On an unseasonably hot day she finished 23 seconds clear of fellow Scottish internationalist Claire Gordon from the host club. Ex-Gala Harrier Louise Mercer had a very promising return to the hills just two seconds further adrift in 3rd.

In the men’s race, it was a day for the young bucks with Jacob (18) coming home 2nd in 28.49, 26 seconds behind the winner GB Junior Internationalist and regular rival Andrew Lawler.